Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has highlighted the debt crisis facing Africa, attributing it to both negligence and corruption among the continent’s leaders. During a recent engagement with young individuals organized by the Future Africa Leaders Foundation at his residence, Obasanjo delivered a pointed critique of the current situation.
“Many debts incurred by African nations stem from irresponsible financial management and blatant corruption,” Obasanjo stated when asked about the escalating debt issues affecting the continent. His remarks, conveyed by his media aide Kehinde Akinyemi, underscored the urgent need for more accountable and disciplined governance to avert further economic decline.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Obasanjo shared how his commitment to speaking out on critical national and global matters led to his imprisonment during General Sani Abacha’s authoritarian rule in 1995. “I faced imprisonment because I wouldn’t remain silent,” he recounted. “For me, if there was an issue that warranted commentary, I voiced my opinion, which ultimately resulted in my incarceration.”
The former president also touched on his unexpected return to political life following Nigeria’s turbulent era of military governance. After his release from prison, he was urged to assume the presidency in 1999, a decision he made in light of the country’s pressing needs at that time.
“I had completed my military career by the age of 42 and had turned to agriculture,” Obasanjo elaborated. “However, upon my release, the dire circumstances in Nigeria compelled people to believe that action was necessary. That’s how I re-entered the political arena.”
